adminAs the World Cup 2026 draws closer, African nations are locked in qualifying battles for a coveted spot in football’s most prestigious competition. The new format for the World Cup has resulted in four extra slots for the African continent and one possible slot via an inter-confederation play-off. With four rounds played already in the CAF section of the World Cup qualification, the picture of which nations will represent Africa in the tournament looks to be taking form.
African World Cup qualification
One team will qualify directly from each of the nine groups, while four of the best second-placed teams will battle for a chance to compete at the inter-confederation play-off and claim the remaining two spots. Each continent will have a single representative in this play-off, except Europe.
With the fifth round scheduled to be played on the 19th of March 2025, several upcoming key games will decide the outcome at the end of the qualification rounds next year. Some of these crucial games include:
Burundi vs Ivory Coast
The match between Burundi and Ivory Coast is one with a lot riding on it, as it has the tendency to blow the race for the top spot in Group F wide open. The Elephants are currently top of the table with ten points after four games but are being chased down by Gabon with nine points and Burundi with seven. Any result other than a win in this clash might result in the current African champions relinquishing their top spot with five more games to go.
Niger vs Morocco
Africa’s highest-ranked team, according to FIFA, will take on Niger in their upcoming world cup qualifier. Niger is proving to be the only form of competition in group E for the Atlas Lions, who are unbeaten so far. It will be interesting to see if Niger can put a dent in the charge of the Moroccans or if they will be swept aside like everyone else. Naturally, Morocco is the bookies’ favorite to win, and if you’re looking to bet, you can find out the top sportsbooks and claim the best promo codes at .
Sudan vs Senegal
Perhaps the biggest shock of this qualification round, the Lions of Teranga find themselves trailing the Sudan national team by 2 points after four matches. Sudan tops Group B with ten points, while Senegal is second with eight. This match is of huge significance as it can either create more daylight for Sudan or get Senegal back on track to direct qualification.
Zimbabwe vs Benin
In the tightly contested group C, the next round of fixtures can decide how this group will look by the end of next year. One of those fixtures is the match between Zimbabwe and Benin. Zimbabwe is currently at the bottom of the group with only two points, while Benin is tied with South Africa and Rwanda for seven points. This game is a must-win for Zimbabwe if they are to have any chance of progressing to the World Cup either through direct qualification or via the play-off spot.
Rwanda vs Nigeria
Another crucial fixture in Group C is the match between Rwanda and Nigeria. Rwanda tops this group by virtue of a superior goal difference despite being a three-way tie of 7 points. On the other hand, Nigeria is disappointingly second from the bottom with three points after four rounds. This game is another must-win match for the Super Eagles, as another subpar result will condemn the Nigerian stars to another failure to feature in the World Cup final tournament in 2026.
With the fifth round slated for March next year, these teams should have enough time to get up to speed and do the math regarding their chances of going through. A lot can still happen that can change the dynamics of each match. Factors like injuries to top players who are still playing with the club teams or a change in coaching staff can have a massive effect. Either way, we are in for lots of footballing drama in the near future.
Online Reporter